Phew, I did it! As I mentioned in Beginner Friendly: Simple K-Beauty Starter Kits for 4 Skin Types, that if I managed to not throw myself off a cliff after finishing all 4 skin types, I might do a bonus "My personal kit if my house burned down and I had to start over with nothing but Amazon gift cards" version. *knocks on wood that will never happen.*

I also warned that unlike the original starter kits, my lineup would not have just 5 items or less, because that's not how I roll. Here's yesterday's products, for example:

Instead of "drive it like you stole it", it's "layer it like you bought it & it has a limited shelf life"?

I'm coming back to this series as it's something that people seem really interested in, but I'm going to have to break it up a bit because I want these posts to be heavy on visuals and light on wordswordswords. This is also going to help answer those questions like "why does toner go after a first essence?" and "where do I sheet mask?" which despite all the numerous guides I've made over the years, still remain a frequent visitor to my inbox. Visuals for the win!

What I'm going to do once this post is done, is create visual examples of how these products can be combined into different routines. That will be coming up next, woo!

In this post:

My K-Beauty picks on Amazon (if my house burned down)

Let me just say before we start that 1. you do not need all this stuff. Really. 2. this is not a recommendation of skin treatment; that is a discussion between you and your doctor. This is just a curated (eurgh that word) round-up of Korean beauty products I throw my money at that are readily available on Amazon, in case you are the "two day shipping or bust" vs the "80% off retail and wait 3 weeks" type. If you're the latter, this post is for you: From Beginner to Expert Mode: Where I Buy K-Beauty & Asian CosmeticsJust as a quick reminder: this blog uses both affiliate and non-affiliate links, and if you choose to click the fomer before you shop, your purchase may contribute a tiny amount to the maintenance of this blog. See full details at the end of this post! #receipts

My K-Beauty picks on Amazon (if my house burned down)

So, we're go with a ludicrous premise that will let me show every step in a multi-step Korean skincare routine, which is if my personal stash (which you can see here) was obliterated and I had to repopulate it from scratch. If you're side-eyeing this lineup and thinking "but she only has one face" I both applaud your sensible approach and recommend that you check out the frequent daily routines I post on Instagram, which are much more realistic than this thought experiment.

Behold!*jazz hands throwing glitter that I'll be picking out of my hair for weeks*

You don't actually need all this stuff, honestly. Still, it helps to have visuals! Click for huge size.

I'll be numbering things in the order I'd apply them, although I'd never apply all of them (especially the actives!) at one time.

Cleansers: 1st & 2nd Cleansers + Toners

Sadly, Amazon does not stock my preferred first cleanser, which is the Cremorlab Gel Oil, aka the only oily-type cleanser that both removes my makeup and sunscreen without clogging my skin or breaking me out. I'm now on my second bottle, which is saying a lot for someone who rarely wears makeup or sunscreen. *flaps batwings and screeches from vampire cave*
So instead, I've picked a cleansing water as a 1st cleanser, followed by foaming cleanser that Kerry of Skin and Tonics has successfully used as both a first and second cleanser. I'd not recommend doing this in lieu of a 'real' oil cleanser + foaming cleanser for double cleansing, and you can find recommendations for oil/balm cleansers in the other starter kits.

I've burned through half of this giant 400ml (!!) bottle already, despite having a lot of cleansers in rotation. I've reviewed it here: Lazy Morning Staple: Su:m37 Skin Saver Cleansing Water Review, and while I prefer it as an AM cleanser, if I was without my trusty Cremorlab Gel Oil, this is the product I'd reach for instead. Micellar/cleansing waters do not do a great job of cleaning, so meticulously cleansing with a second (stronger) cleanser would be a must for me.

I've gone through several tubes of this, and while I've since moved on to other cleansers, the travel-friendly packaging, the lovely rose scent, the pleasant texture, and the low pH of this cleanser made it an easy Amazon-friendly pick. (See empties + review here. Also, it has rose petals. Ayyy.

This toner has been discontinued (yet again) so I have no idea how long it will be in stock.Update: According to a Mizon rep who spoke with Fanserviced-b, the toner is not discontinued! PRAISE THE SNAIL! I've purchased a few backups, and I've emptied somewhere around 8 bottles of it so far. I've tried to find replacements for it that I liked, but there's just nothing that's measured up. You can read more here: Review: Cosrx AHA / BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner vs Mizon AHA BHA Daily Clean Toner. Please note that pH adjusting toners are not necessary for most people who use low pH cleansers, but my skin freaks out if I skip it, so it's a staple for me. *brokenly sobs in the corner while stroking dwindling stash of toners* *booty pops in the corner because Mizon's trying to bring it back*

Actives: Anti-Aging & Anti-Acne

When I'm not using a prescription azelaic acid and/or retinoid, I use actives to care for my skin concerns. You can read more about the actives I use here: What's In My Skincare Wardrobe: Actives (Prescriptions, Antioxidants, and Acids) Edition. I use Vitamin C serum for anti-aging and fading hyperpigmentation from old acne scars, a BHA exfoliant for unclogging my pores and help prevent new breakouts, and an AHA exfoliant for bring clogs to the surface, fading hyperpigmentation, and smoothing skin texture.

Yes, you can have anti-acne and anti-aging in one routine.

Please note that one should not be using these all at once. I used the Vitamin C every 1-2 days, the BHA daily, and the AHA 1-3 times a week, max. That's a lot of active use, and I slooooowly built up to that level over a year or so. Also, the BHA I use is weak as a day-old kitten, otherwise I wouldn't use it daily.

I've been through a few bottles of OST C20, as has my mother, and while the unstable nature of L-ascorbic acid vitamin C serums can be a bit of a pain (they oxidize quickly) there's no denying that the reactive nature of L-AA packs an antioxidant punch. OST is very, very affordable when you consider the price tag of comparable vit C serums on the market, so if it oxidizes before you finish the bottle, it's less painful to admit it needs to be tossed. I stick with the original C20 version and not the C21.5 version, as the 'improvements' to the formula aren't actually that beneficial and it's more expensive.

Yes, this is a chemical exfoliant, but it's also extremely gentle compared to things that have a "scorched earth" approach like the famous red box Stridex. BHA is oil-soluble, and I used this product for very, very long time to combat excess oil (sebum) from clogging up my pores and bringing congestion to the acne houseparty on my face. BHA is also anti-inflammatory, so it's got several perks. You can read about the other things I use here, and check out a review on Fifty Shades of Snail here.

My beloved Mizon AHA 8% Daily Peeling Serum is also discontinued, so once I finish the last drops of it, I'll be replacing it with this. Apparently it smells terrible, but it works and it's reasonably gentle, so I'll take it. Please note that Glycolic acid, which is the most common AHA, has been shown to cause photosensitivity for up to a week after use, so a full-spectrum sunscreen is a must. You can find more information and links to the studies I've found about it here: Putting your products in order, including pH dependent acids. Fiddy has also reviewed it on Fifty Shades of Snail.

K-Beauty taught me to hydrate my skin first before I applied any creams or occlusive products, and it changed everything. You don't have to use Korean products to follow this philosophy (in fact my sheet mask pick is from Taiwan, and Taiwanese masks are popular everywhere- including Korea) but there are so many amazing hydrators of various types, textures, packaging, and scents that I've got a testing/wishlist a mile long. Mists! First Essences! Hydrating toners! Regular essences! Serums! Ampoules! Skins! Whipped essences! Pressed serums! Water creams! It's endless, and I want them all on my face.

I don't use hydrating toners normally; if my skin feels like it has residue from my actives that needs to be wiped off (such as oxidized Vitamin C) I will usually use my regular cleansing toner. However, hydrating toners are a popular choice for people looking to max out their moisturization; I've tried several and didn't like them, but I did like this one enough to empty the bottle. It smells pretty, it has a pretty bottle, and there was nothing about it that I disliked. You can read more here: Review: Mizon Mela Defense White Boosting Toner & Mela Defense White Capsule Essence.

This was one of my picks for My Favourite K-Beauty Products of 2015, and here's why:
This essence/serum is watery, light, hydrating, soothing, and is favoured by oily/acne prone folks such as fellow Snailcast blogger Tracy of Fanserviced. Some people find it helps to calm acne or even prevent it; in my case I found it to be a great sidekick to a 'real' acne fighter such as chemical exfoliation or my Curology prescription, although not capable of miracles on its own. Check out Fanserviced's review for more details.

Snail was my first K-Beauty love, and it will always have a place in my heart and in my cart. Tracy of Fanserviced-b sent me a decant of this, and it was soothing, hydrating, and pleasantly uh ... slippery. It's technically an essence as well, not a serum, but it's a bit thicker than the LJH essence I chose, so I'd apply it after. Snail products help calm and soothe my skin, reduce the inflammation/soreness of any active breakouts I have, help heal my blemishes faster, and are pleasantly moisturizing without clogging my skin. Snails, I'm so into you. You can check out Fifty Shades of Snail's review here.

Silk sheet masks are not my all-time favourites, but they're like the ... light snack version of sheet masks and they're easy to buy. Even in the high heat of summer, these tasty light masks are never too much for my skin, and their silk[-ish] material makes for a perfect second-skin fit and ultra comfortable wear. I'd snag the Hot Spring version (as recommended by Fifty Shades of Snail) or the Snail Hydrating masks-- and oh snesus, they've got the super-hydrating black masks now too and um ... brb. *grabs matches and wallet and hurries off to Amazon* Ok, I'm back and smelling faintly of scorched leather. I actually use sheet masks as my primary hydrators, because their slow saturation gives me lasting hydration that essences and serums just can't on their own.

Occlusives: Creams, Oils, & Sleeping Packs

I don't use a lot of occlusives, because my skin clogs easily and tends to get oily. I have a few that are staples, though, despite my skin's dislike of this type of product.

Was there any doubt that this would contain my top discovery of 2015 aka the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, which was then-unknown and has since become quite popular. This was in both my mother's care package and in my mother-in-law's birthday box this year. I'm on my fourth jar of this wonderfully strange stringy cream with its water-wrapping feel, hours of hydration, and gorgeous packaging. Edit:for some reason, the Amazon listing is currently incorrect, which I've already reported to Amazon and am waiting to hear back. If you need an alternative source for it I refuse to use anything else; Joseon & I are going to Thelma & Louise/Romeo & Juliet into the sunset. Please get this sorted, Amazon. Praise Snesus, it's fixed!

This was a mainstay in my winter routines on Instagram, because it's a light oil with a strong Hanbang/ginseng scent that mixes well with products and, er, doesn't feel like an oil? I mix a drop or two into creams or sleeping packs. The trick of mixing in a few drops to boost the richness of existing products is a great temperamental skin tip-- it lets you continue using products your skin already knows and loves, rather than introducing new things that might break you out.

I hate sleeping packs. I don't like things that sit on my skin and rub off on my pillow, and my skin clogs so easily that sleeping packs are not for me. That being said, this little delicious overnight mask from my Hanbang for the Holidays: Luxe for Less: Little Luxuries Under $15 post has won me over. On nights where I feel like my skin just needs a good slather or I need to surround myself with the scent of ginger and ginseng, this is what I reach for.

Sun Protection, Spot Treatments, & Mists

At the end of my AM routine, I use sunscreen. At the end of my PM routine, I use a spot treatment. I use mists whenever the heck I feel like it; in the morning before I've started my routine, between my routine steps, after my routine, during the day at my desk, at night, anytime I feel like I need a lil pick-me-up.

There's always gotta be someone who doesn't fall in line ... #ProductRebels

If I have a blemish that is forming or hasn't come to a head yet, I found this Mizon pink spot powder/liquid nerfed small breakouts and brought large ones to a head faster so I could apply a hydrocolloid acne sticker and get them taken care of fast. Some pink powders are just drying lotions with calamine in them, which I find a lot less effective than this Mizon. The Mizon contains acids to help bring things to the surface and reduce inflammation, and when I empty the one I have, I'm going back to this one. You can read the review here: Mizon Acence Blemish Out Pink Spot Review.

It goes last in my PM routine because if I apply it earlier, I can't keep it dry once I start adding a bunch of layers, so I just clean off the spot when I'm done and dab it on.

If I have an open blemish, I just slap on a hydrocolloid acne sticker, and these marvelous things get to work draining all the infection and inflammation out of the blemish and trap it away from the wound. It also keeps the blemish clean and moist, so it doesn't get re-infected and it heals quickly. I wish I could go back in time and give these to my teenage self. You can read more about hydrocolloid acne stickers in general here.

Like the pink spot powder, I apply them after I'm done my PM routine and just clean off any product on the area so it sticks.

I can't wear chemical UV filter sunscreens, so I wear physical-filter sunscreens. This the best non-drying, reduced-whitecast, physical-only sunscreen I've tried, and I've managed to empty and repurchase it. That's saying a lot for someone who works 50-60 hours a week from home and therefore rarely wears sunscreen. I wear it when I go out, I just don't go out often. Read more here: Goodal Mild Protect Natural Filter Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ Review.

I seem to fall in love with mists every year when the weather heats up, although there's no reason you can't use them year-round. I like keeping one at my workdesk to spritz my face so I don't go off on someone while I'm working and get fired. Oh, and it's a nice hydration boost for any time of day, and between any step in my routine where I want a little extra hydration. There's so many mists out there that I have't repurchased this one after emptying it, but I liked it fine. Plus, snails.

That's it for now-- I plan to experiment with creating example routines using these visual guides; let me know if you find them more (or less) helpful than the Instagram daily routines I normally do.

Have I picked any of your Amazon faves? Hit me up on Facebook or Twitter and let me know!

Have something you'd like to share with me in general? Snap a pic and tag me on Instagram at @snowwhiteandtheasianpear because I'd love to see it!

All the best,

-Cat

**Disclaimer: All products reviewed on my blog, are 100% purchased with my own money, with a single exception of a press sample I tested & reviewed in 2015 which swore me off of them forever. This blog contains both affiliate and non-affiliate links, and clicking the former before you shop means that this blog may receive a small commission to assist in this blog supporting itself. Please see my Contact Info & Disclaimer policy for more information.

I recently bought Cosrx AHA for the first time and it doesn't smell anything at all! I even opened the spraying cap and stick my nose in to see if it's anything like the reviews online have said, and there's only a pretty pleasant smell! I think may be the twitched the formula...

Yep, that's correct: "My beloved Mizon AHA 8% Daily Peeling Serum is also discontinued, so once I finish the last drops of it, I'll be replacing it with this." Once I am done the Mizon, I'll be purchasing and using the Cosrx 7%. If I feel like it does anything wildly exciting or unusual, I will do a review, but if what I have to say is the same thing as what other people have said, I may just do a comparison review or a mini review in another post. :)

This is such a fun idea! I hate sleeping packs too, and my skin is about as dehydrated as it gets. There's a local store to me that has the My Scheming mask boxes at about half the price Amazon has them; I got my first ones this weekend and I finally understand the hype. Thank you so much for this blog, it's taught me so much about skincare in such a fun way. :)

Nice, My Scheming locally! I'm jealous. ;) Sleeping packs are great ... for other people. >_> When I go to bed I want to snuggle up to Mr. Snow like a sleepy koala, and I can't do that if I've got goo all over my face, eh? ;) And thank you for the kind words! :D

It really depends! If there is no sheet mask or actives, the whole thing takes me maybe 2 minutes? I don't bother to wait between my hydrating and occlusive steps, so I just slap on my layer, make sure it's evenly distributed, and then carry on with the next one. :)

I got a sample of the CosRX whitehead power liquid from Jolse and it smelled like vomit and I washed it off. But the full-sized container -- not so bad! I don't know what the deal is, but I am doing fine with the smell and the product now.

I'm pretty upset with Mizon right now; they've been discontinuing and re-continuing the Mizon toner for about a year now, and there's nothing I've found to replace it. I don't understand why they're doing this; it's a very popular product. :(

Hi Cat, this is related to the CosRx Blackhead Power Liquid that you talked about. How long did it take you to see results? I just started using it after reading about actives on your blog about a week ago but not sure if there are results. I also haven't experienced the "purging" or grits that other people have mentioned! Thank you so much, your blog has inspired me to really get into my skincare! ^.^

So, the link to the Joseon Cream on Amazon is showing me a (Seemingly) random donkey milk cream. Does anyone else see this?

I can't find the cream on Amazon at all right now, which is a shame b/c I was getting ready to make it my next purchase. The only place I'm seeing it readily available atm is Memebox, unless I'm missing something.

As I mentioned in the post, there is current an issue with the listing and I'm waiting to hear back from Amazon on it, which is why I linked the Memebox link in an otherwise strictly Amazon post. :)

"Edit: for some reason, the Amazon listing is currently incorrect, which I've already reported to Amazon and am waiting to hear back. If you need an alternative source for it, Memebox US carries it for $22. I refuse to use anything else; Joseon & I are going to Thelma & Louise/Romeo & Juliet into the sunset. Please get this sorted, Amazon."

Love that you can now create a whole routine on Amazon! Though I believe on the UK Amazon there are less choices and a lot more expense... I'd be tempted to switch the MRCS for the Hada Labo Foaming Cleanser, but that's cos I'm lazy. And the MRCS is in my travel kit, so it would be a difficult decision.

Hi there! Happened upon your blog somehow and have been binge reading! I can't believe I found my skin twin. Since I've hit the big 4-0, my skin has gone bonkers! Can't wait to study your spread sheet! Thank you so much for sharing such a wealth of info!

P.s. I just checked the Korean Mizon site and the peeling gel is still available. Didn't see anything to indicate it is discontinued. Keeping fingers crossed that it will be available on Amazon soon!

Realtalk the Amazon Korean beauty section is going to change the game. It means that US-based shops are no longer the gatekeeper of Korean beauty; anyone can find good products readily available at a good price.

Hi Cat!It's really nice to find and read your blog. I learn a lot from you about K beauty. I think I understand the step, but my question is..what's the different between first essences and other essences? Is it because the ingredient? I notice the first essences you mentioned have similar ingredients like fermented galactomyces or something like that. So how you differentiate the product if there's no label such as "first treatment"? Thank you very much! ^^

I have news (I dunno if this'll be a bad or good lol) for the Mizon AHA & BHA Daily Clean Toner. They reformulated it. It just came in today and comparing the ingredients at cosdna website and your mini review post, and the orders of the ingredients are different. Here's the link to the ingredients based on my Mizon AHA & BHA Daily Clean Toner that I got today:http://www.cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_2900259952.html

Not only the ingredients orders are jumbled up, the AHA ppm is also different. I saw at your mini review on the bottle it said "AHA 450ppm, BHA 30ppm", and mine is changed to "AHA 1200ppm, BHA 30ppm".

Haven't tried it yet, haven't check the pH either. I intended to apply it tonight but I forgot lol. I'm gonna try it tomorrow and we'll see how it goes. I hope it will be fine though, trying to search for another pH balancing toner other than Cosrx. Too bad I haven't tried the older formulation, so I couldn't compare how it goes between the old and the new ones.

Hi Cat,I'm currently trolling your entire site and having lots of questions. What would a product such at Holika Holika 3 second starter be catagorized as? And where would it fall in the skincare lineup?

Oh my gosh.. this is all the info that i am looking in out the internet & now only i discover your blog. Thank you so much for the sharing. This is really very informative and clear with photo explanation. Appreciate it.

Hello Cat! Firstly, I would like to say how much I appreciate your website, it is pretty much an encyclopedia about all the asian products. Well done for so much effort you've put in here!Secondly, I have a very (probably) common question. I have the same skin as yours (dehydrated combo) and after looking at so many 1st, 2nd essences and serums, was thinking which would be the most essential to start with. I was thinking Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (after all cleansing and before dynasty cream)? Or which one is your favourite if you had to choose one? I'm sorry if it's a stupid question :)